A Song For A Summer’s Night - Chapter 105

Song Luli was breathing heavily; sweat trickled down her face.

She could see Long Jie up ahead, running. He paused at the foot of a small bridge, turning to face her, smiling mischievously. Song Luli smiled back, and then she ran after him, determined to catch up.

Across the bridge, towards a large hill, Song Luli ran next to Long Jie, racing across the trails of their property. Sometimes Song Luli was taken aback by how athletic Long Jie was. Judging from his stamina, his speed and strength, he had years of experience.

Nonetheless, he was training her to improve her strength, and she began to feel the difference every day. The way she began to run farther without feeling breathless. The way everything felt easier when it came to lifting or tumbling over the bedsheets with him, without getting tired as quickly.

They stepped into the forest, which was the most challenging part of their course.

They had to keep running without tripping over the branches entwined slightly above the earth’s soil. Song Luli and Long Jie skipped over thin streams of running water, slipping between small rocks.

Long Jie skipped over a fallen bough, and Song Luli did the same. They then ran through a thin trail with tall grass, abundant trees, and thick morning fog, dodging the branches that would hit their faces if they weren’t paying attention.

Their breaths began to heave the farther they went, the faster they went.

Song Luli ran closer towards the tall hill, and she dashed towards it, passing Long Jie. He was the one who was falling behind now. He then ran after her, reaching the top.

The wind breezed through Song Luli’s dark locks, escaping from her braided hair when she reached the peak. She breathed in the fresh air, exhaling deeply. Long Jie stepped next to her with red-tinted cheeks and drenched hair.

Song Luli glanced at him as the morning sun shone behind him. Long Jie smiled, and her breath caught. Every time she looked at him, it always felt like it was the first time.

She remembered him when they were children, a boy of auburn hair and blue eyes who kept her close when they played. As teenagers, he saved her from the disaster of Han Ru. As adults, Long Jie gave her more than what she asked for, and in each of those times, she felt like she met a new side of him. But what she also learned was that Long Jie is consistently generous, patient, and doting.

Song Luli stepped towards him, looking over at the acres, where they could see their home, the lands behind, and the city beyond. She reached up to peck him on the lips, and he kissed her back.

Long Jie then passed her some water from the bag he carried, and she took a sip.

“Let’s walk back,” Song Luli told him.

Holding hands, they walked back home, and the entire way, Song Luli teased him on how she beat him at the end of the race.

Long Jie responded with a lingering smile before he picked her up, throwing her over his shoulder like a sack of grain. Song Luli pouted. “All right, I get it. You still have energy,” she told him, and he let her down.

At the house, they both washed up and changed, going into separate cars to work.

Song Luli arrived at the set, overlooking everything. Lan Shufen passed her a large cup of tea, and they both went to speak with the director about the last scene.

In the late afternoon, the director yelled, “That’s a wrap!”

Lan Shufen gathered everyone around the set for final speeches. “Let’s hear some words from our director and screenwriter.”

The director spoke, and then it was Song Luli’s turn.

All the cast and crew faced her.

Song Luli looked at each of them, registering them in her memory. Lan Shufen gave them each glasses of wine as Song Luli spoke, lifting hers. “Thank you for choosing to go onboard with Song Entertainment. I understand that there are many competitors out there who have more experience in this industry, who rack in millions just for releasing a film, regardless of its quality. But, after spending years doing market research on movies, on behalf of my father, I realized we need to give the viewers what they want.”

She then smiled broadly. “Let’s show them that Song Entertainment can bounce back from minor setbacks.”

The small crowd clapped, clinking their glasses. Song Luli kept smiling, knowing that she completed the project that would either make or break her career, but it was all worth it.

Han Ru dropped by, approaching her alone.

“It takes time to edit a movie, but I requested our team to arrange a movie trailer to display months in advance of the premiere,” he told her.

Song Luli grinned. “Thank you, Han Ru,” she responded.

Han Ru nodded. He then caught a glimpse of Song Luli’s glimmering ring.

“Jie gave that to you?” he asked her, surprised.

Song Luli nodded, wearing a smile on her face. “Yes,” she responded. “He told me he loved me.” She blushed and paused, looking directly into Han Ru’s eyes. “I told him that I love him too, regardless of how we got together in the first place.”

It took a moment for Han Ru to respond to her. “I wasn’t sure if Long Jie took the marriage seriously. But, I figured he did; he just held back,” Han Ru told her.

“He does,” Song Luli assured him. “He would do anything for me, and I would do anything for him.”

Han Ru glanced at the floor, grinning. He then looked up at her once more. “Well, congratulations to you both. I wish you a long and happy marriage,” he said to her.

Song Luli stepped forward, grasping his shoulder. “Thank you, Han Ru,” she said genuinely. “I hope that three of us can always be friends,” she said to him with a smile.

Han Ru was taken aback slightly. He didn’t think that Song Luli would consider him a friend; those words stirred something inside of him.

Song Luli patted his shoulder before she turned around, walking away. Her heels clicked against the floor; her hair had grown past her shoulders, near the mid-back. Everything about her changed, and Han Ru wasn’t sure how to feel about it.

Song Luli then walked out of the exit, where Long Jie was waiting for her.